The Bongo Room

This place is great!! The atmosphere is welcoming and the staff are friendly and attentive. Then there is the food. I had the lobster roll Benedict and it was amazing! Perfectly poached eggs with lobster filling and brioche bread! My husband had the classic and loved it as well. Also they have no gluten free bread BUT they DO have gluten free pancakes! They also always have lots of fresh squeezed juice options.They don't take reservations but on sunday at 11am we didn't have to wait for a table of 3 but I can see them having a longer wait so be prepared. Just know that it is worth the wait and if you go on Sunday there is a farmer's market right behind the restaurant.

This was our first stop after our flight landed in Chicago! It was a Sunday morning, and we enjoyed a wonderful leisurely brunch! All of the food was wonderful, but the highlight of this place for us were their juices and beverages. Very personable waitress. What we loved about the ambience was that, despite the high ceilings, the noise factor was not at all overbearing.

Met friends here for brunch, and I unfortunately ate my food before they got there due to how long I was waiting, lol, however I took pics of theirs which looked really good as well.The staff were very friendly, comfortable seating, and my meal was delicious. I made my own omelette and added the breakfast potatoes to it. There was intriguing artwork in the space as well, and would love to take my teen here in the future.

Update 12/11/23 - I'm afraid this place is just a bit overrated. I like that they have fun pancake options and they're pretty good but $15+ and you can't make them into combos so if you want a balanced breakfast, you have to order two entrees.This time, my husband got the lobster Benedict and I got the ham and eggs and we shared the ube pancakes on special. They charged extra for ham and for egg whites. Our total after tip was $77 for two for breakfast, just kinda insane. My ham and potatoes were cold. Our potatoes were mushy and unappetizing. Especially after asking for extra crispy. Possibly the worst bfast potatoes I've ever had.The redeeming qualities: the ube pancakes were fun and different. Not super flavorful but good texture. My husband enjoyed his lobster Benedict.

The vibe for this location is cozy and it's easy to get to from the blue line! Great food, especially the Ube pancakes (tasted like the latte) and their juices. The service was good, we were able to put our name down and they were very accommodating when some of my party was running late and I could sit at the bar as well. Surrounding the restaurant are so many stores in wicker so you can easily kill time while waiting for your table.

So, I've been eyeing The Bongo Room forever, and this Saturday, fueled by an epic 12-hour sleep, I finally rolled in right at 9 am when they opened. Usually, I'm all about brunch, but after such a knockout night of rest, breakfast was calling my name.The place was already buzzing, - got seated quick, and our server wasted no time hitting us with menu suggestions. Fresh juice on tap? Heck yes! Went for the orange-pineapple-some-mystery-fruit combo, and it was a tiny glass of pure deliciousness. Wish it was bigger, but hey, taste over quantity, right?Now, let's talk about the Vanilla Latte - absolute perfection. They didn't serve it scalding hot, so I could actually enjoy it without burning my face off. Major points for that, Bongo Room!The Breakfast Burrito.... that tortilla embraced the eggs, guacamole, and melted cheese like a long-lost friend. House potatoes? Seasoned just right with a satisfying crunch. The Italian Breakfast Sandwich!!!!!! Toasted tomato focaccia, basil pesto, roasted peppers, buffalo mozzarella, lemony arugula, and scrambled eggs. Holy flavor explosion! If you go, do yourself a favor and order this masterpiece.Now, let's talk about those mini pancakes. I'm not a pancake person, never have been. But when the server said "mini" and "purple," I caved. Those fluffy, moist, tender bites were like a pancake rebellion in my mouth. I need another round ASAP.Now, here's where the vibe shifted. We got a bit of a side-eye from a dude eyeing our plates, practically begging to clear them. We were trying to chill, enjoy the moment, but suddenly the check magically appeared. Not cool, Bongo Room. Nobody likes feeling rushed while grubbing.Despite the sprint to the finish, The Bongo Room delivered on the taste front. I'll be back for those purple pancakes, but next time, I want to linger over the last bite at my own pace.

I really enjoyed The Bongo Room! While out and about we saw a long line for here so decided we had to try it out. The interior is very welcoming, nice decorations everywhere. We were sat at the bar which wasn't my favorite, but that's just cause it was so so busy. Our waitress was so friendly and the food was unique and so good! We ordered the pumpkin pancakes, and chocolate tower French toast. Both were really sweet, and very yummy. I'd love to try more of the menu in the future. Also had a chai latte which did not disappoint. I love brunch places so this is definitely one to revisit

Ah-mazing food. My daughter got the challah berry French toast and said it was the best meal ever. My baby loved the breakfast potatoes. I had an omelette with chorizo and it was delish. Service was quick and very nice. It's very clean and a great atmosphere. Modern and nice but still kid-friendly.

One word: pancakes. Literally one of the best pancakes of my life. So fluffy and moist with the most delicious toppings. YUM! The rest of the meal was pretty good too. I was not overly impressed by the potatoes or chorizo omelette but based on my friends recommendation, the shrimp scampi benedict was to die for. There was no wait around 10am on a Sunday but there was a small line when we left. Service was very quick and efficient as well.

Cozy atmosphere with modern feel! Great food and very friendly service! Average size portions. On the pricy side though, a family of four with one round of drinks was north of $150.00. Not sure the overall experience matches to that level. For me this would be a special events meal. Be aware this establishment charges a CC service fee. Take cash if you want to avoid. One star off for that as I personally found that to be unacceptable! Enough with the add on fees. We are already paying through the nose!